Orientation Sensitive Luggage Latch

Abstract

A luggage case latch mechanism has a gravity operated detent mechanism which operates when the case is wrongside-up to prevent unlatching.

Description

The present invention relates generally to luggage latch mechanisms, and, more particularly, to such a latch mechanism that is orientation sensitive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A not infrequent occurrence in the handling of luggage, particularly luggage pieces having an external symmetrical appearance, is to open it and find the contents wrongside up. That is, it is customary to pack luggage, valises, attache cases and the like in such manner that the materials contained therein have an "up" or "top" and to have the materials correctly presented the luggage must be properly oriented on opening.

This wrongside-up problem is especially acute with valises or attache cases which typically open into symmetrical halves. Attempts in the past to solve this problem have been directed to providing identifying markings, e.g., owner's initials, that can only be properly read when the case is correctly oriented, or the manufacturer's name is applied to the case such that it can only be read when the case is rightside-up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the practice of the present invention the luggage latch mechanism includes a gravity positioned detent. When the luggage is properly oriented the detent slides to a position permitting normal latch opening. With the luggage wrongside-up, the detent engages the latch preventing opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a properly oriented attache case opened.

FIG. 2 shows the case of FIG. 1 opened when improperly oriented.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the case of FIGS. 1 and 2 shown closed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational, partially sectional view of the luggage case latch mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a sectional, elevational view of the luggage latch mechanism in closed relation.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the latch mechanism open.

FIG. 7 is an elevational, partially sectional view of the latch mechanism of FIG. 5 taken at 90.degree. thereto.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the latch mechanism disengaged.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with the luggage case wrongside-up, depicting the latch disengagement preventing aspects of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1-3, the luggage case of the invention is enumerated generally as at 10. As shown there, the case includes a pair of substantially identically appearing open-shell halves or parts 11 and 12 pivotally connected together along an edge 13. Typically, a pair of edges 14 and 15 of the respective parts 11 and 12 are secured together by a latch mechanism 16 which is selectively engaged and disengaged by hand operated actuators 17 and 17'.

In the usual situation, materials are stacked in the case in a preferred arrangement, intending that when the case is opened the materials will be presented for removal in the same order. However, as shown in FIG. 2, when the case is opened wrongside-up, the materials 18 tend to fall out in disarray, or, at the least, are presented upside down, requiring closing of the case, reorientation of the case and then reopening. Although this problem can arise in a wide variety of luggage styles, the probability of such an occurrence is increased where the luggage case has a bilateral symmetry as seen best in FIG. 3. That is, as shown there, the valise halves or parts 11 and 12, latch mechanism 16 and placement of the handle 19 are such that, unless special means are adopted, correct orientation of the luggage is impossible or at least very difficult to determine by visual inspection alone. Initials "F" have been added to the various figures of the drawing for ease of presentation herein, in that the luggage case orientation shown in the different views may be ascertained and thereby an understanding of the operational condition of the latch mechanism of this invention in the associated views is obtained. Where the initial "F" is properly oriented to be read easily, the case is properly oriented with its rightside up.

Referring now to both FIGS. 5 and 6, the latch mechanism 16 is shown in section viewing in plan as the luggage case is illustrated in FIG. 1. Actually, there are typically two such latching mechanisms for the case referenced in FIG. 1, one at the right and one at the left, which are individually operable. However, since the construction is identical for the latch mechanisms, except that the component parts of each have a mirror image relation to the other, only that mechanism associated with the actuator 17 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the latch mechanism includes a channel 20, generally L-shaped in cross-section, affixed to the outer surface of the central portion edge 15 of the luggage case part 12. The actuator 17 is a generally elongate member pivotally connected at approximately its midpoint 21 with one end of a toggle link 22, the other end of which link pivotally connects to an upstanding arm of a yoke 23 integral with the inner wall surface of the L-shaped channel 20. The inwardly directed end of the actuator is pivotally related to the outer end of a latch bolt 24 slidably received within a housing 25 secured within the L-shaped channel 20 inwardly of the yoke 23. Typically, the outer end of the actuator 17 includes a key operated locking means 26 which cooperated with the channel 20 in a conventional manner.

As will be more fully described, when the luggage case 10 is properly oriented as in FIG. 1, the actuator 17, with the locking means unlocked, may be transferred from the closed or latched position shown in FIG. 5 to the open position depicted in FIG. 6. It is to be noted that when the actuator is in the closed position (FIG. 5), it is parallel with the channel 20 and thereby maintains the latch bolt at its leftmost position. When the actuator is moved to the open position (FIG. 6), it is then angularly disposed to the channel 20 and this movement serves to transfer the latch bolt 24 to the right a distance d which, as will be shown, disengages the latch mechanism and permits the luggage case to be opened.

Also, as will be more particularly described, in the event the luggage is oriented wrongside-up, the actuator 17 is prevented from being transferred from the closed to the open position and, therefore, the luggage case cannot be opened.

The latch bolt or drawbolt slide 24 is of generally platelike construction having a substantially constant thickness t as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6. The right end of the drawbolt slide is bifurcated as shown in FIG. 7 with the actuator 17 end being received between the arms 27 and pivotally related therewith by pin 28. A portion of the drawbolt slide body is removed forming an elongated slotlike cavity 29, with a part of the walls defining the cavity being shaped into a hook 30 which extends into the cavity.

A further elongated slot or cavity 31 is formed in the drawbolt slide body along the edge opposite that including the cavity 29. A compression coil spring 32 has one end bearing against a shoulder 33 of the slot 31 and its other end engaging an upstanding stanchion 34 affixed to the wall of housing 25. That is, as depicted in FIG. 7, the spring tends to urge the drawbolt toward the right.

Secured to the edge 14 of the luggage case half 11 is a clasp or hook which extends through an opening 36 in the housing 25 for receipt within the cavity 29 when the case is closed. More particularly, in the closed position the clasp 35 lockingly engages the hook 30 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, preventing opening of the case.

The lateral dimensions of the drawbolt slide 24 are such relative to the housing 25 that the slide can be readily moved within the housing between the open and closed positions shown in FIGS. 8 and 7, respectively. Specifically, the outer edge of the arm 26 of the bifurcated bolt end (FIG. 7) slidingly abuts against a housing wall member 37.

The member 37 terminates short of the opening 36, providing a space 38 between the outer bolt edge, the stop shoulder 39 and the opposed inner housing wall surfaces. That is, when the drawbolt slide is fully open as in FIG. 8, the shoulder 39 on the back of the hook 30 bears against the inner edge of 37 and the immediately adjacent drawbolt upper edge is in flush contacting relation with wall member 37. When the drawbolt slide is shifted to the closed position, the shoulder 39 is moved away from the wall member 37, positioning the adjacent drawbolt edge facing the cavity 38.

The drawbolt slide body includes a cylindrical opening 40 extending transversely of the slide as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and opening out at the edge facing the cavity 38. A cylindrical pin 41 having a diameter slightly less than that of the opening 40 is received within the opening. The pin 41 has a length such that when fully recieved within the opening 40 (FIGS. 7 and 8) the outer pin end is recessed from the drawbolt slide edge, and therefore, will not impede movement of the bolt slide from closed to open positions. On the other hand, the pin is sufficiently long that it can be extended outwardly of the opening 40, as in FIG. 9, to contact the inner housing wall surface 25 while a substantial portion of the pin still remains in the opening.

For the following description of the invention operation assume the luggage case 10 initially to be closed with the clasp 35 engaged with the associated hook 30 (FIG. 7) and the case resting on the major outer surface of the case half 12 as in FIG. 3. In this orientation, i.e., rightside-up, the pin 41 is gravity seated within the opening 40 and operation of the actuator 17 from the FIG. 5 position transferring the drawbolt slide to the open position shown in FIG. 8 can be accomplished.

If, however, the closed luggage case is inverted from the orientation shown in FIG. 3, i.e., wrongside-up, the latch mechanism is now disposed as in FIG. 9. In this position gravity withdraws the pin from the opening 40, causing the lower end of the pin to contact the inner housing wall. On attempting to manipulate the actuator 17 from the closed position (FIG. 5) to the open position (FIG. 6) the projecting pin end engages the edge of wall member 37, preventing sufficient movement of the drawbolt slide to disengage the hook 30 and clasp 35. Inverting the case once more to the FIG. 3 orientation returns the locking pin 41 within its opening to permit opening.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A luggage case which can only be opened when it is disposed in a prescribed orientation, comprising:

upper and lower luggage wall members pivotally related along an edge;

a latch mechanism releasably interconnecting the wall members at another edge; and

a locking pin slidably received within the latch mechanism which moves into obstructing relation with said latch mechanism when said luggage case is oriented with the upper wall member down thereby preventing releasing of the latch mechanism and opening of the case while said luggage case maintains said orientation;

in which said latch mechanism includes a drawbolt slide which is substantially horizontally disposed when said luggage case rests on a horizontal surface on either the upper or lower wall members, said drawbolt slide being movable from an engaged position securing the upper and lower wall members together to a disengaged position releasing said wall members from one another;

said locking pin including an elongated member received within an oversize opening in the drawbolt slide extending transversely thereof, said locking pin moving outwardly of the drawbolt slide opening when the upper wall member is down, the outwardly extending portion of said pin contacting means carried by one of said wall members thereby preventing movement of the drawbolt slide to the disengaged position.

2. An orientation-sensitive latch mechanism for releasably securing luggage case parts together, comprising:

a clasp mounted onto one of said case parts;

a housing mounted on said other case part and including an opening for receiving said clasp therein when the case halves are closed on one another;

elongated bolt means slidably received within said housing and including a transverse opening therein;

a hook carried by said bolt means, engageable with the clasp when said clasp is received through the housing opening;

an actuator pivotally connected to said bolt means, said actuator being manipulable to move said hook into and out of engagement with said clasp;

a pin slidably received within the bolt means opening and free to move under the action of gravity alone from a first position fully received within the bolt means to a second position where part of said pin extends outwardly of the bolt means; and

means on said housing for intercepting said pin when it extends outwardly of said bolt means to prevent movement of said bolt means and hook by said actuator to release the clasp.

3. A latch mechanism for releasably securing luggage case sections together, comprising:

a clasp carried by one of said case sections;

a housing mounted on said other case section and including an opening for receiving said clasp therein when the case sections are fitted together;

an elongated drawbolt slidably contained within said housing and including a transverse opening therein;

a hook carried by said drawbolt lockingly engaging the clasp when said clasp is received through the housing opening;

a hand operated actuator pivotally connected to said bolt means and manipulable to move said hook into and out of engagement with said clasp;

a pin slidably received within the drawbolt opening and free to move under the action of gravity alone from a first position fully received within the opening to a second position where part of said pin extends outwardly of the opening; and

means on said housing for intercepting said pin when it extends outwardly of said bolt means to prevent movement of said drawbolt and hook by said actuator to release the clasp.

4. An orientation-sensitive latch mechanism for releasably securing luggage case parts together, comprising:

a clasp mounted onto one of said case parts;

means mounted on said other case part and including an opening for receiving said clasp therein when the case halves are closed on one another;

bolt means slidably received within said means mounted on said other case part and including a transverse opening therein;

means carried by said bolt means and engageable with the clasp when said clasp is received through the first recited means opening;

an actuator connected to said bolt means and manipulable to selectively move said means carried by said bolt means into and out of engagement with said clasp;

a pin slidably received within the bolt means opening and free to move solely under the action of gravity from a first position fully received within the bolt means to a second position where part of said pin extends outwardly of the bolt means; and

means on said first recited means for intercepting said pin when it extends outwardly of said bolt means to prevent release of the clasp.

5. A luggage case which can only be opened when it is disposed in a prescribed orientation, comprising:

first and second luggage sections;

a latch mechanism releasably interconnecting the luggage sections together; and

a locking pin received within an opening in said latch mechanism and free to slide in said opening solely under the effect of gravity, said locking pin moving outwardly of said latch mechanism opening when the first luggage section is oriented to face downwardly, the outwardly extending portion of said locking pin contacting a portion of one of said luggage sections thereby preventing release of the latch mechanism.